Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2008-09: Sam Jardine skated in four games with the Red Deer Rebels midget AAA team and spent the bulk of the season with the Red Deer Chiefs U16 team. He had one assist in AMHL play with the Rebels. In 32 games with the Cheifs he scored 6 goals with 21 assists and had 36 PMs.

2009-10: Jardine made his junior debut with the Camrose Kodiaks, skating in three games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and was one of the top defensemen for the Red Deer Rebels midget AAA team. He was scoreless with 3 PMs for the Kodiaks. In 34 games with the Rebels he had 9 goals with 15 assists and 18 PMs. He skated in 10 playoff games with the Rebels and had 1 goal with 2 assists.

2010-11: Jardine played a full season with the Camrose Kodiaks in the AJHL and skated for Canada West in the 2010 World Junior A Challenge. In 50 games with the Kodiaks he notched 6 goals and 16 assists. In 23 playoff games he scored 4 goals with 7 assists and had 24 penalty minutes. Camrose reached the league finals after finishing third in the West Division during the season. Jardine was named to the AJHL’s All-Rookie team. Camrose competed in the RBC Cup as the host team and in five games Jardine scored 1 goal with 4 assists and had 4 penalty minutes. In five games at the WJAC, he had 1 assist with 4 penalty minutes as Canada West finished fourth – falling to Switzerland in the bronze medal game.

2011-12: Jardine returned to Camrose for a second season and once again skated for Canada West in the 2012 Junior A Challenge. He was the leading scorer amongst Kodiaks defensemen, scoring 11 goals with 19 assists in 51 games. Jardine scored 5 of his 11 goals on the power play and had 83 penalty minutes. In four playoff games he had 2 assists and was minus-one. In November 2011 he committed to playing college hockey at Ohio State in 2012-13. In five games at the WJAC, Jardine had 3 assists with 4 penalty minutes. Canada West defeated Canada East, 4-2, in the championship game.

2012-13: Jardine skated in 28 games for Ohio State as a freshman – missing nearly two months after suffering a forearm injury in a November game against Alaska. Spending much of the season partnered with huge Buckeyes defenseman Justin Da Silva, he had 7 assists and was -1 with 48 penalty minutes. Ohio State was fourth in the CCHA despite finishing one game under .500. The Buckeyes reached the conference semifinals before falling to Notre Dame.

2013-14: Jardine moved into a primary role for Ohio State in his sophomore season. Playing mostly on the top two pairings for the Buckeyes he scored 1 goal with 12 assists and was plus-7 with 41 penalty minutes. Ohio State finished fourth in the Big Ten and reached the conference championship game but did not receive an NCAA tournament berth after losing to Wisconsin, 5-4, in overtime.

2014-15: Jardine skated in 33 games for Ohio State in his final season of college hockey. He scored 2 goals with 10 assists and was -7 with 29 penalty minutes. The Buckeyes finished fifth in the six-team conference, upsetting fourth-place Penn State before falling to top seed Minnesota in the Big 10 tournament. Jardine signed an AHL contract with the Rockford IceHogs in August 2015, foregoing his senior season at Ohio State.

Talent Analysis

Jardine is a mobile, puck-moving defenseman that is excellent in transition. He has worked to improve his foot speed, can get up the ice fairly quickly and moves well laterally. He has added physical strength during his college career and worked with Blackhawks' staff to improve his power. He has some offensive instincts, moves the puck well and makes great outlet passes. Jardine has poise and patience with the puck but sometimes holds the puck too long. He will jump into plays offensively and defensively uses his stick effectively to take away lanes. Jardine is solid in one-on-one situations and works to move opposing players off of pucks. He has the ability to kill penalties.

Future

Jardine was signed to a one-year AHL deal and invited to Blackhawks' training camp prior to the 2015-16 season before being released. (While he is skating for Chicago affiliate Rockford he is not technically a Hawks' prospect — though that would likely change with a big season for the IceHogs). Jardine was a solid college defenseman who created offense from the back line. How much NHL potential he has remains to be seen.

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has seen the enormous potential in scouting both European and collegiate players, and nothing shows this more than his recent draft history. In the last two drafts, 12 of Bowman’s 17 selections would skate in either the NCAA or Europe the very next season. There’s clearly no rush to get these young guns to the NHL just yet, so allowing these prospects to perfect their game in their respective leagues has been crucial for their development. Several Blackhawks prospects will also have a chance for an NCAA Championship at the 2015 Frozen Four as well.

In the AHL, one player who is ascending back to top prospect status goes head-to-head against a record-setting goaltender. In NCAA action, the Big Ten may be decided this weekend as the two top teams and their leaders clash. The battle for the last playoff spot in the OHL’s Western Conference heats up with a pivotal game between two of the teams fighting to get in. Two solid games in the QMJHL and WHL complete this week’s Prospect Faceoff. Read more»

In this week’s Prospect Faceoff, two sets of draft-eligible players go to head-to-head in critical games for their respective teams. In the OHL, two of the most improved players will see game action against each other. In addition, polar opposite defensemen lead their teams in a pair of NCAA games this weekend. Finally, two prospects with future college commitments including one player traded during Monday’s NHL trade deadline. Read more»

Photo: Stephen Johns is one of Chicago’s many hulking defensemen who likely have a future in the NHL (courtesy of Mark Spowart/Icon Sportswire)

For years, one of the key concerns plaguing the Chicago Blackhawks was the lack of a quality second-line center. While general manager Stan Bowman is hoping his big free agent acquisition, Brad Richards, is a temporary solution for the 2014-15 season, the answer for future seasons may come from within the organization. Bowman and Co. have taken it upon themselves over the past few years to draft a plethora of centers.

Photo: University of Michigan forward and Buffalo Sabres prospect J.T. Compher was named Big Ten Rookie of the Year in 2013-14 after posting 31 points in 35 games (courtesy of Brad Rempel/Icon Sportswire)

For the 2014-15 season, Big Ten hockey features 44 NHL prospects. All six member teams have at least two prospects on their rosters. Minnesota leads both the Big Ten and the nation with 15 NHL prospects. Read more»